Short answer: the W-King D20. It ranks #41 of 112 boombox speakers by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $193. The Skullcandy Barrel ranks #60, rated 3.2/5, at $157.40, $35.60 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
What the Skullcandy Barrel does well: A water resistant party speaker with a synced light show, bass boost and linking for many speakers. The catch: Not as deep bass as the top ranked speakers.
The W-King D20 is the better-sounding, deeper-bass option. A loud stereo party speaker with two wireless microphones, a 24 hour battery and water resistance. Its bass reaches about 42Hz before falling 10dB, against 50Hz for the Skullcandy Barrel. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 12 for the Skullcandy Barrel. Watch for: Rising frequency response but upper treble rolled off, 700Hz and 1.2kHz peaks.
Buy the W-King D20. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $35.60 you would save on the Skullcandy Barrel does not close the gap.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A water resistant party speaker with a synced light show, bass boost and linking for many speakers.
A loud stereo party speaker with two wireless microphones, a 24 hour battery and water resistance.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| Skullcandy Barrel | W-King D20 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $157.40 | $193 |
| Ranked | #60 of 112 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #41 of 112 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~50Hz | ~42Hz |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 11.9 lbs (5.4 kg) | 14.3 lbs (6500 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| App | Yes (Skullcandy app) | Yes (W-King app) |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | Yes (App + button modes) |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | Yes |
| USB Playback | No | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| FM Tuner | No | - |
| Amplifier Power | 60W | 200W |
| Dimensions | 11.8” x 22.1” x 9.6” (300 x 560.1 x 243.8 mm) | 19.9” x 8.5” x 10.6” (506 x 217 x 270 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 20mm drivers | 4.5” + 3.5” drivers + 1.2” tweeters |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX6 |
| Maximum SPL | 104dB (Manufacturer specified) | 112dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
| Wireless Microphones | - | Yes |
Watch Them Compared
Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.
Related Speaker Comparisons
How W-King D20 compares with other leading options: